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1 / 50#50. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $76,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Omaha that require a graduate degree
Earning top dollar often requires more education than an undergraduate degree. Of course, doctors, lawyers, and professors all need extra years of focused study in their respective fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in industries like business, engineering, and mathematics build specialized knowledge that can fast-track one's career—and salary.
In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Meanwhile, doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
However, wages can vary widely by occupation. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Omaha that require a graduate degree in Omaha. This includes doctorates, master's degrees, and professional degrees. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
Beyond offering higher pay, a master's degree may also provide greater job security. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder was 2.2% in 2024, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Unemployment is close to 1% among those with doctorates and professional degrees.
According to a May 2025 report from ResumeGenius, many employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, leading to better job prospects. But that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median cumulative grad school debt also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, the expense may be difficult to justify. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers with graduate degrees in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their counterparts in humanities and the arts. Meanwhile, a humanities graduate degree brought only 10% more earnings than a bachelor's degree.
Keep reading to find out how much graduate degree holders can earn in different roles.
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2 / 50#49. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 420 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $76,630
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 480 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $78,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 120 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Curators
- Median annual wage: $79,420
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 50#43. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $79,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: 670 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $82,770
- Median hourly wage: $39.79
- Total employment: 70 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $83,820
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 880 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $85,450
- Median hourly wage: $41.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $85,820
- Median hourly wage: $41.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,870
- Median hourly wage: $41.29
- Total employment: 650 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $87,060
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: Not available
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,340
- Median hourly wage: $47.28
- Total employment: 1,290 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $101,520
- Median hourly wage: $48.81
- Total employment: 260 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $109,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 920 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $125,180
- Median hourly wage: $60.18
- Total employment: 150 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $125,730
- Median hourly wage: $60.45
- Total employment: 1,970 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $128,240
- Median hourly wage: $61.66
- Total employment: 660 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $129,190
- Median hourly wage: $62.11
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,510
- Median hourly wage: $64.19
- Total employment: 1,270 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $133,890
- Median hourly wage: $64.37
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $174,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 500 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $196,390
- Median hourly wage: $94.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $200,590
- Median hourly wage: $96.44
- Total employment: 360 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $216,170
- Median hourly wage: $103.93
- Total employment: 360 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $229,230
- Median hourly wage: $110.21
- Total employment: 90 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $231,090
- Median hourly wage: $111.10
- Total employment: 140 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $232,800
- Median hourly wage: $111.92
- Total employment: 330 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 780 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Djols // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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